The Gwyneth Effect

The boys may have been going crazy for comic book hero Iron Man's debut on the big screen but for a lot of girls the focus has been Gwyneth Paltrow's skyscraper shoes.

The Oscar winner has been working her way through a spectacular collection of 7 inch heels while promoting Iron Man and it's her shoes that are grabbing the most headlines.

And now it seems the 'Gwyneth effect' has had quite an impact on sales of fetish style high heels. Selfridges on Oxford Street has sold out of Alexander McQueen's Languid shoes with their 6 inch heels and has had a 35 per cent increase in sales of skyhigh heels from Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent in the last two weeks.

Though impossible to walk in, these super stilletos do wonders for streamlining and slimming legs. Perfect for being photographed at premieres. Not so great for any kind of movement.